Burwood Council v Mehedin Abdul-Rahman [2021] NSWLEC 46

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Burwood Council v Mehedin Abdul-Rahman [2021] NSWLEC 46 Hearing dates: 13 May 2021 Date of orders: 20 May 2021 Decision date: 20 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [125]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: offender convicted of two charges of unlawful development and one charge of procuring unlawful development – guilty plea – sentencing principles – extent of environmental harm caused by the commission of the offences – state of mind of offender at the time of the commission of the offences – objective seriousness of the commission of the offences low to moderate – no prior convictions – remorse and contrition demonstrated – specific and general deterrence warranted – comparable cases. Legislation Cited: Burwood Local Environmental Plan 2012 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A(2), 21A(3), 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 1.3, 4.2, 4.3, 9.50, 9.52, 76A, 125 Fines Act 1966, s 6 State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 State Environmental Planning Policy (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas) 2017 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Burwood Council v Abdul-Rahman (No 2) [2017] NSWLEC 177 Burwood Council v Doueihi [2013] NSWLEC 196; (2013) 200 LGERA 152 Burwood Council v Jarvest Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 109 Burwood Council v Pratelli [2014] NSWLEC 28 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chahoud v Penrith City Council [2020] NSWLEC 167 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Parrish & Son Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 47 Cumberland Council v Badoui Habib [2017] NSWLEC 18 Environment Protection Authority v Baida Poultry Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 280; (2008) 163 LGERA 71 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales (Office of Environment and Heritage) [2019] NSWLEC 66 Environment Protection Authority v GrainCorp Operations Limited [2019] NSWLEC 143 Environment Protection Authority v Rands [2019] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gore v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 330; (2010) 208 A Crim R 353 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84; (2014) 86 NSWLR 422 Heatscape Pty Ltd v Mahoney (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 45; (2016) 217 LGERA 332 Hijazi v Georges River Council [2020] NSWLEC 36 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 78 ALJR 616 Jones v R [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 Ku-ring-gai Council v Baynie [2017] NSWLEC 172 Lane Cove Council v Wu [2011] NSWLEC 43 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty [2010] NSWLEC 170 Liverpool City Council v Maller Holdings Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 48 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Mosman Municipal Council v Menai Excavations Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 132; (2002) 122 LGERA 89 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; (1998) 194 CLR 610 Pesic v Sutherland Shire Council [2019] NSWLEC 38 Pham v R [2015] HCA 39; (2015) 256 CLR 550 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12; (2009) 165 LGERA 289 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Harris [2007] NSWCCA 130; (2007) 171 A Crim R 267 R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Walden v Hensler [1987] HCA 54; (1987) 163 CLR 561 Water NSW v Barlow [2019] NSWLEC 30; (2019) 244 LGERA 1 Zirilla v The Queen [2014] HCA 2; (2014) 253 CLR 58 Category: Sentence Parties: Burwood Council (Prosecutor) Mehedin Abdul-Rahman (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Shneider (solicitor) (Prosecutor) J Papafotiou (solicitor) (Defendant)